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九月 23, 2012 | North America: Pennsylvania

Healthier Communities are Stronger Communities

By Loretta Claiborne

This is me at the CGI meeting in New York

I remember when I was asked first asked about Healthy Athletes, many years ago. I had some reservations. I was a naysayer. Dr. Ron Vederman was trying to start it, and he said to me, "What do you think about Healthy Athletes?" I said, "I think we should stick to sports. Why do we want to get into the private lives of people's health?" Then I thought, "Dr. Vederman, you know what? I understand." If your feet don't feel well, you can't run well. But also you can't participate in the community with a job. If your teeth hurt, you don't eat well, and if you don't eat well, you can't take care of your body. If you can't see well, you can't bowl well. In the community, if you don't see well, you can't see what's going on. I don't read well, so I use my eyes and ears to learn and think about what's happening. Healthy Athletes is one of the best programs to come around for people with intellectual disabilities. With Healthy Communities, I see better lives and people living longer. And when you have a healthier community, you have a stronger community. Healthy Communities will really open the eyes of the community about people with intellectual disabilities.

About Loretta Claiborne: I first got involved with Special Olympics in 1970. I like in York, PA. I am 59, and I am in several Special Olympics sports. Soccer, bowling, athletics, golf, basketball, tennis, figure skating and skiing. And I run almost every day